The state sailing team with Sarawak Yachting Association president Harifen (fifth right) at the end of the 22nd KFC/NSC Open Regatta at Tanjung Aru beach, Kota Kinabalu, in Sabah.
KUCHING: The state Sukma XVIII optimist sailing team will have to overcome stronger headwind and choppy seas if they want to reap medals in next year’s Sukma hosted by Sarawak.
The team did not come off with flying colours at the recent 22nd KFC/NSC Open Regatta at Tanjung Aru beach in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, where out of the 13-member team, only two sailors Nur Sasya Aimuni Ariffin and Sharifah Adriana Batrisya Syed Malek each managed a fourth finishing in the International 470 Open category.
TUDM were the overall champion in this category, followed by Sabah and Sarawak.
Sarawak chief coach Hamdan Yahya feels that Sasya Aimuni and Sharifah are still lacking experience and exposure, especially when facing strong winds and waves when compared to their counterparts from Sabah and TUDM.
“I admit they are still new and need more time to gain experience and furthermore the weather condition on the first day was really challenging and only the skilled and experienced sailors are able to overcome the odds,” he said.
However, the former Melaka team coach expressed satisfaction with the remaining 11 members of the state team as they managed to complete their races.
Sarawak took part in eight out of nine categories in the two-day competition, namely Optimist Division A, B and C, Laser 4.7 Radial, Laser Standard, International 470, International 420, Wind Surfing Open and Novice.
Other members of the state team were Angeline Chin Shie Jie and Darron Chin Hui Jie (Windsurfing Bic-techno), Mohamad Syafia Hasnan (Laser Radial), Shafigri Arwan (Laser 4.7), Ariff Syazwan Abdul Razak (International 470 Open),Mohd Azmirul Ak Irene (International 470), Masturina Ismandol, Putri Nor Andryana Samsul Helmi, Nur Ameera Natasha Zamzurine, Mohd Shukri Halias and Sharul Izhan Hani (Optimist).
Hamdan said the training for the state squad will continue as usual from Monday to Tuesday and from Thursday to Sunday.
“I will be focusing more on the practical training apart from the physical and mental training with the assistance of the National Sports Institute Miri branch. We are also planning to hold a motivation camp in the coming school holidays apart from having exposure training and competition at club, state or national level as well as holding in-house competitions,” said Hamdan.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Yachting Association president Harifen Mansor said the association is trying to corner a coach from the Armed Forces, Arwan Indruce, for the Wind Surfing event.
“We have received a report from Hamdan that we do have a chance of securing at least a medal in the Wind Surfing event through our young sailors Angeline Chin Shie Jie and Darron Chin Hui Jie,” said Harifen who is confident of Arwan’s capability as the state coach because he was a former national sailor.
The president said in trying to secure the services of Arwan who is a Sarawakian, the Sarawak State Sports Council has approached the Armed Forces on the matter and barring any problem, Arwan shall report to the Miri sailing training centre by this month.